Hector Concepcion was born in the north central Puerto Rican coast city of Vega Baja. They family moved to Chicago when Concepcion was a boy and he played football and baseball for Wells Academy High School on Chicago's North Side.

He enrolled at the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1989 to pursue business studies but did not graduate.

Concepcion went on to work as an investment consultant for Harris Bank and later started Samson Investment Group, where he is the CEO and president.

He has also served as the executive director of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Illinois.

He is married and has three children.

Hector Concepcion is a newcomer to politics mounting a long shot challenge against ten-term U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez.

Concepcion is a Republican in a heavily Democratic and Latino district where Gutierrez, who is recognized as a national leader in immigration reform, has been popular and praised for his constituent services.

But Concepcion disagrees and says that an "unresponsive congressman" is one of the top issues facing the 4th District, which cuts into several Chicago neighborhoods and northwest suburbs.

Concepcion, like Gutierrez, has ties to Puerto Rico and has fought for issues there. Concepcion was born in Puerto Rico and has advocated for its statehood. He founded a statehood organization in Illinois in 2004 and is a speaker for the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico.

Gutierrez's parents are from Puerto Rico and the congressman said his visits there were key to the formation of his identity as an American and work as an immigrant rights activist.

Concepcion says other issues in the district are the lack of employment opportunities within the district and public safety.

"My beliefs have been influenced mainly by my faith, family values and love for freedom and opportunity in this nation," he said. "I am a compassionate fiscal conservative, Christian and a constitutionalist who is a solutions-oriented candidate."